Stakeholders Reject Proposed Salary Increase for Tinubu, Governors, Ministers | NLC, Atiku, Akpan Speak Out

A wave of concern has arisen following plans to raise salaries for President Bola Tinubu, governors, ministers, and other officials.

The Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) indicated last Monday that they intend to boost the remuneration of these officeholders. Chairman Mohammed Shehu, speaking in Abuja, condemned the current earnings for being too low, unreasonable, and outdated. He noted that President Tinubu earns ₦1.5 million monthly, while ministers make under ₦1 million—figures unchanged since 2008. He remarked that paying the president so little in light of the nation’s over 200 million citizens is borderline laughable. Although RMAFC clarified that it does not set minimum wages for public sector employees, it is constitutionally tasked with determining remuneration for political, judicial, and legislative roles.

The proposal triggered swift backlash. Critics slammed the timing—amid widespread economic hardship—and dismissed the proposal as tone-deaf, calling for its immediate suspension. In an interview with LMSINT MEDIA, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and human rights lawyer Nkereuwem Akpan called on RMAFC to halt the plan.

NLC Speaks Out

Benson Upah, NLC spokesman, expressed outrage and labeled the recommendation “insensitive, unjust, and inequitable.” He argued it would worsen inequality between civil servants and political office holders, entrenching poverty. He demanded transparency: current earnings, the benchmark for the review, and a total suspension of the exercise before it ignites public uproar.

Atiku Weighs In

Atiku’s spokesperson, Paul Ibe, asserted that the plan shows an administration bent on serving its own interests, not Nigerians. He criticized the use of borrowed funds for the raise, highlighting the growing debt burden on the children of today. He noted that the current minimum wage doesn’t suffice for basic essentials like school fees or rice, yet the administration seems determined to increase politicians’ pay—calling it insensitive and unjust.

Lawyer Akpan’s Critique

Constitutional lawyer Nkereuwem Udofia Akpan urged a cutback on lavish allowances for lawmakers—highlighting the drain on the economy from vehicle, housing, furniture, constituency project, and entertainment expenses. He questioned why someone of Tinubu’s wealth—former senator and two-term governor—would want more. He emphasized that the issue is not salary alone but the wider perks and corruption fueling wealth accumulation. He’d rather see fair official pay than enrich officials through dubious contracts or oil deals.